"Great African Democrat, But Remember 1982" Karanja's assertion fails the reality test

Early 1944, Von Stauffenberg an officer in Hitlers close circuit who had lost his left hand and fingers fighting in Tunisia had plotted to assasinate Hitler. Even though Von had been a staunch Hitler supporter he had a rude awakening that Hitler was mad and was leading Germany into real doom. The assasination attempt failed and Hitler continued to lead Germany through a senseless dictatorship and eventual war that shed so much blood not only in Germany but all over the world. The war was eventually dubbed the second world war throwing so many nations into the gloom of recession. If only many saw the light that Von Stauffenber saw, the war could have been avoided, alot of lives could have been saved and alot of money could have not been waisted.

One must remember that at this point Von and his colleagues may have looked at all the other options. Remember this guy had lost an arm for his country. May be he thought of a peaceful way of ending Hitler's leadership and concluded that nothing was feasibility. In other words he resorted to violence after everything else failed. This is not unique to Germany. Many had resorted to this technic to remove an evil empire even though some have done this unjustifiably. I strongly believe that Raila's perticipation in the 82 coup was justifiable unless Karanja and everyone who has been attempting to crucify Raila for the 82 coup either chose not to remember the Kenyan past or they were not born yet. Besides Raila was not the only one who attempted this. Many in Kenya did it but failed before anything materialized.

The Kenya of 1982 is not the Kenya Karanja lives in now. There was only one party Kanu and any person from within or without Kanu who dared criticise Kanu was excommunicated from Kanu and lost everything they had publicly or privately worked for. Karanja must have forgotten the days when Okondo was forced to cry in front of Okiki Amayo to gain back his Kanu membership because if you lost your Kanu membership you definitely lost your parliermentary seat. Karanja must have forgotten what happened to Kamotho when he was kicked out of Kanu. Peoples properties were seized and could not get them back. University students were being harrassed and jailed left and right. Anybody who wrote anything wrong against the government was labbelled mwakenya, arrested and jailed without trial. Basically Kenyans were at ransome of the Moi government. Kenya had moved from a democratic country to a dictatorship under a civilian government. The provincial administrations behaved like the SS of Germany.

Many a times people attempted to point this to Moi and his henchmen but these fell in deaf ears. Alternatively they were labelled an enemy of the government and sent to prison. These were the days when Moi was the baba wa taifa and Kanu was baba na mama.

Where was this Karanja who is now claiming that Raila who was attempting to liberate Kenyans was infact the evil one? Does he know that without Raila we could have still been having this trend. Indeed without the coup and percistent fight for democracy against this type of government many of us who write on these forums would be endangered species. Many countries who hoped that these dictators would eventually be tired and give up ended up destroyed.

Moreso Karanja should be reminded that the 82 coup by Raila and co was not the only one that had been planned in Kenya during that time.

Do you remember, the "traitor" period when Njonjo was crucified at the table of his own people just later on to realize that the very same people were plotting to take over power. Why was Josephat Karanja replaced as the vice president? What about Kibaki? Even if Raila was not fighting for the country he had a right to fight on behalf of his father who was being denied the very freedom he faught for. Each person including Karanja believes family is first. Why would he think Raila has no right whatsover to put his father first and fight for his right.

It is hypocritical for any politician or individual to vilify Raila because of the coup. Of course many die during this pereod but many more died as a result of political assasination, hunger and diseases because of the wrong Moi regime. Many died during the clashes that was later aimed at keeping Moi in power. Many died during Saba Saba in which many more Kenyan leaders were involved including those in PNU.

For all the reasons highlighted, the coup was a worthy course. It was a prelude to what eventually delivered democracy for Kenya and Raila is not the only one who attempted one. The coup gave the people a chance to elect the leaders they want. It showed Moi that he was not the God of Kenya and that the Kenyan people owned their country and not one man in the name of Moi. The coup brought freedom of speech which Karanja enjoys now. There is therefore absolutely no need for Raila to apologise for it. Indeed it should be an evidence of committment to freeing the people of Kenya and not an evidence of a possible dictatorship. For me I am grateful to Raila, Rubia, Matiba, Shikuku and all those involved for willing to give their life for the shake of all Kenyans. In so many circumstances they were beaten and shed their blood so that I can write whatever I want now. For these I cannot vilify them, I must praise them. Just like the Mau realized the who discovered that the colonial powers were not going to handover power without a fight, so did Raila knew that Moi had become a tyrant and had to be woken up. Sometimes extreme cases require extreme measures.

Dr. Barack Abonyo